Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-09-16

:
that broke up the charge Fitz John Porers corps
at the second battle of Manassas, just twenty-five
years ago.
For some unaccountablc reason history docs not
give the name OF tho battery referred to in the oh
cal reports Of yourself and General Z. NJ. Wilcox,
as the one which first opened fire under your i'm
mediate eye in front of Writings brigade Of
Hoods division, on tho left of the Gainesville and
Alexandria turnpike at $50 p. IN. on the thirteth
of August, 1862.
in writing of the battle says, on page 1913: AT
the critical moment when the fate of Jackson's
corps was trembling in the balance Colonel Lee
dashed with his artillery into position that en-
fladed tho federal right wing, and hurled upon it
| q storm of shot and shell. At the same moment,
Longstreet's infantry rushed like tempest against
Pope's left. driving everything before it. This az
| sault was irresistible, and speedily decided the
fortune of the day. Popes left wing gave way
| before it at every point and his right being as
sailed in flank and threatened in rear, relaxed its
| efforts and began to retire.
In the painting by Philliptcan of this battle
which has been on exhibition at the Panorama of
| the Second Battle of Manassas" in Washington,
D. C.. for twelve months, il is represented that the
| artillery commanded By Col. s. D. Lee opened the
! attack on, end broke up the charge Of tltz John
| Porters corps from position on the left of Will
| cox's division, while the battery referred to by
yourself and General Wilcox is not represented,
and the position from which it fired is left blank
In your report published in "otiicial records of
union and confederate armies, series l., vol. NIL,
| part II, page 500, yOu say "At $50 o'clock IN
the afternoon rode to the front for the purpose
| OF completing arrangements for making diver
! sion in favor OF flank movement then under con-
| temptation. Just after reaching my front line
| received a message for renforcements for General
| Jackson, who was said to be severely pressed.
| From an eminence near By one portion of the
cnemy's masses attacking jackson were lmmedi-
ately within my view and within easy range OF
| batteries in that position. 1t gave me an oppor-
| tunity had not expected to have and l made
| haste 10 use it. Two batteries were ordered for
| the purpose, and placed in position
| Immediately and opened. Just rs this fire
bepan | received message from the COM
mLnding general informing of General
| Jacksons condition and his wants. As it was cy-
! ident that the attack against General Jackson
could not be continued ten minutes under the fire
of these batteries made no movement with my
troops Before the second battery could bo placed
in position the enemy began to retire. and in less
than ten minutes the ranks were broken and that
portion OF his army put to light. fAlr oppor-
tunty was offered mo- and the intended diversion
was changed into an attack. My whole line Was
rushed forward at charge. The troops sprang to
their work and moved forward with all the stead
| mess and firmuess that characterized war-worn
veterans. The batteries, continuing their play
upon the confused masses, completed the route OF
this portion Of the enemy line, and my attack
was therefore made against the forces in my
front"
In the official report of Gen. C. M. Wilcox, pub
iished in the same volume, page 559, he ssys:
about 800 p. III. the enemy's infantry were seen
emerging from wood upon an open field IN line
OF battle, the wood and field being in front of
Jackson's extreme right and TO the left and near
Fcathcrstons brigade, this field about 500 yards
wide terminating $50 yards from Jackson's line,
the ground hero rising rather stceply fer short
distance, and level to the railroad, behind tho en-
bankmont of which at this point were Jackson's
men. Seeing this advance of tho enemy l repair
ed ut once to the interval between Pryor's and
Featherstons brigades From this point there
| was an excellent view Of the field and not moro
than 400 yards distant. The first line Of the en-
emy advanced in fine style across the open field.
There was but little to oppose them They were
fired upon BIZ our pickets and skirnshers but
they continued to advance aud ascending the riso
above referred to, came within full view of Jack!
sons men, and were here received with terrific
fiIe of musketry at short range. They hcstated
for an instant, recoling slightly. and then ad-
vanced 10 near the embankment. Twice did /
this line advance and retire, exposed to close
and deadly fire OF musketry.
| Seeing second line issuing from tho woods
upon the fold, was i'll the act of ordering bat
terry 20 be placed in position to fire upoa them,
when battery was directed by the ms or- general
commanding to fire upon them, the battery being
| near the turnpike, in an excellent and command
ing position The fire of this battery was most
opportuney delivered upon this advancing line of
the enemy.
They we're caught in the open field. The effect
of every shot could DO seen. rapid fire Of shot,
shell and spe-ical case delivered with admirable
precision, checked their advance. AS shells and
special case would burst over in front and near
them, their ranks would break, hesitate and scat
ter This artillery fire alone broke regiment
after regiment and drove them back into tho
woods
will relate incidents connected with this mat
| ter which you will probably remember.
Between the hours Of two and three o'clock on
the evening Of the 3Oth, had ridden to the posi-
ton occupied by Featherston's brigade, to which
brigade had been assigned for this campaign,
and while at tho highest point occupied by it we
could see the cnelny's infantry, about milo dis
tant, moving in large bodies to the left, and
disappear in body OF woods in front of Jackson's
| left wing. hurried back to my battery, which
was on tho left OF tho turnpike, about so yards
| from it and Immediately behind Hoods division.
! l had only reached thcro few minutes
when l saw you, accompanied By some OF your
staff and orderlics passing along the turnpike to
the front. believing that if you passed through the
skirt of woods in front of US you would discover
| these movements of the enemy and need batter
| les directed my men and drivers to be ready to
move. Ny recollection is that hardly five min
utts had elapsed before messenger, whom took
| 20 be Colonel Manning, came back at full speed
saying that General Longstreet wanted batteries.
Being ready, we moved instantly, and at a gellop
soon reached the point whore you were, on the
left of tho turnpike fifty one hundred yards
from ii, and in front of Writings brigade of
Hoods division. We went into position where
you indicated and commenced firing at heavily
massed body Of infantry on our left and not moro
| than 400 yards distant. You remained several
minutes watching the effect Of the shots and ask
cd me il had any grape shot. 1 fred from
this position until their ranks were broken and
driven back, and moved forward to Groveton and
took position in old apple orchard from which we
fired at the rereating infantry about thirty minutes,
and afterward changed TO positions at and beyond
Grovcton The firing from their batteries at us while
in the orchard was terrific. While there the horse
riding had both hind legs carried away by can
non ball. and while at Groveton the second one was
killed by shell which exploded in front of me.
! would thank you TO make such an Endorsement
upon this letter you deem proper in the interest OF
the truth of history, and in justice 10 the officers and